6/20/2015

Was en-route to another breakfast/brunch spot and passed by Birchwood Kitchen and decided to try them instead.

We waited probably about 10 minutes to be seated which wasn't bad at all. There was self-serve complimentary coffee and water outside. After waiting, we were seated outside on the patio which was really cute! It happened to be a beautiful day out so it felt nice to sit outside.

The service was really good and the food was amazing! I had the scramble, my boyfriend had the croque madam and then we split a half order of the ricotta fritter cakes. Perfect mix of sweet and savory!

Try this place out-you will not be disappointed! =)

7/21/2015

Cute and delicious!

lowdown:
- Sunday at 11:45am for 4 people - waited approximately 30 minutes. At least they provide water while you wait
- very cute outdoor garden area. Felt peaceful and intimate.
- croque madam - a little different from how I"ve had it before. It felt like a grilled ham and cheese sandwich with 2 eggs on top.  I'm used to the sandwich being additionally battered up and friend.  Less guilty but if I'm ordering croque madam I'm asking for the whole 9 greasy yards
- GLBT - open faced smoked salmon sandwich. delicious!  It tasted really fresh, simple, and sophisticated
- ricotta pancakes - ooo yeah my favorite dish.  They were somehow smooth and creamy but a tiny bit fluffy so it never seemed to doughy/cakey or rich/heavy.  I would order again!

Our waiter was also great.  My friend ordered the white bean and potato salad and mentioned to him that she thought there would be more potato.  He offered to take it off the bill but after she declined (she was just being honest!) he came out with a bowl full of potatoes.  Now that's how you earn tip, ladies and gent!

6/30/2015

Clean, lovely, fresh food.

Had the market scramble with a side of bacon, which was awesome! Goat cheese is my bff. Everything here looks lovingly prepared and is (mostly) light, not grease-soaked and overly processed, like a lot of traditional American breakfasts.

Only negative ding for Birchwood is that their service is crawling. Put more servers on the floor, please!

6/21/2015

Worst service I have ever received in my life.

Let me preface this review by saying Birchwood is usually an awesome spot, with really great food and service. Well, not this time. We just went to brunch and were seated within 15 minutes, not too bad. My fiancé ordered a chai latte and i ordered a coffee to start things off. Her chai came about 15 minutes later, and my coffee about 30 minutes after I ordered (which by the way was only because i called the waitress over to ask about it, she would have never brought it otherwise). I was then brought the quiche that I ordered, which was at least half the size of the quiche on the table next to me. When I questioned the portion, she gave me an attitude telling me that "thats what a quiche is, its a slice of the pie." I believe they were running low and really scrimped on the portions, but I should not be paying for a full portion then. Our waitress also never once checked on us. That coffee that took 30 minutes to receive? It was never refilled. Not even questioned. And we had waited about 15 minutes in between our plates clearing and receiving the check. Well, we again had to grab her attention, she was just walking by us completely ignoring our table. Maybe she was too busy washing off the kid's booster seat of the table down from us to handle our check. Yes, she washed off the booster seat in the back kitchen and brought it back out to give back to the parents. But asking for our money by handing us a check? Not important in the least.

All in all, hands down the worst service I have ever experienced. It is a shame because I usually enjoy this place. I forget the servers name, but I would recommend bolting from this place if she comes to greet you.

8/3/2015

We are not from the Chicago area so we stopped by on our way to Lollapalooza and just had a great experience! The hostess was outside and took down names and offered some free coffee and water outside! The wait was only ~15 min for 3 on Saturday at around 10:30am. When we were waiting, we noticed the sign outside that said they were BYOB and saw that there was a liquor store down the block. So we picked up a small bottle of vodka and ordered the beet based bloody mary which was really interesting and delicious! Honestly there's too much in that bottle for me, so I should've shared one. The food and the service was great. I loved the ambiance, seating area (indoor and out) and the open kitchen. One downfall was that they missed my utensils and forgot a coffee that we ordered but it was no big deal and he was so friendly and cool that I didn't even feel frustrated or disappointed. It was not difficult finding street parking in that area too!

• 

  Bring in a little bottle of vodka and get the beet based bloody mary mix!

  Bring in a little bottle of vodka and get the beet based bloody mary mix!
• 

  Biscuits and pork loin with eggs

  Biscuits and pork loin with eggs
• 

  Corn bread pudding

  Corn bread pudding
• See all photos from Jenn S. for Birchwood Kitchen

3/16/2015

I love Birchwood Kitchen so so so much!!!

I've gone for brunch twice and lunch once. Both times were absolutely amazing and always wonderful. I've had the pot roast sandwich, french toast, shrimp and grits, ricotta pancakes, and corned beef hash throughout my three visits.

The ricotta pancakes were seriously the best pancakes that I've ever had in my entire life. I wanted so much more!!! The corned beef hash was a special for St Patty's Day Weekend and it was phenomenal.

Honestly, everything that I've had here has just been wonderful. I always leave the place wanting more!!!

They used to do a thing where you ordered at the counter and they brought the food out to you but now they just do regular service. I really don't care which way they do it.

Be prepared to wait! I came with my mom promptly at 9AM so we were able to snag a seat but within minutes the place had filled up!

• 

  Ricotta pancakes, corned beef hash, and a side of bacon!!! YUM!

  Ricotta pancakes, corned beef hash, and a side of bacon!!! YUM!

6/1/2015

Love the decor and ambience here! The paintings on the wall made it colorful and trendy. Perfect for a nice brunch date :)

We came around 3pm on a Sunday, and there was about a half hour wait. The hostess and waitress were friendly and attentive. Unfortunately, they had run out of the top three items on the brunch menu by then but we did come in late considering they were closing at 4pm. If I get a chance to come again, I would love to try the braised artichokes with italian sausage & and the shrimp and grits.

What we ordered:
- croque madame: this seems to be what everyone came here for so we had to try. It was flavorful and good, but the mustard seeds were a little overwhelming for me so it wasn't my favorite. The spinach vinaigrette salad that comes with it is fresh and a good pairing though.

- breakfast sandwich with bacon: this was more of a burger sandwich, and the bread was soft albeit a bit greasy. Overall, full of protein and a good choice for someone with a hearty appetite. This comes with the spinach vinaigrette salad as well.

- soup of the day (garlicky potato): TBH, I was excited to try their tomato soup but unfortunately that wasn't a choice that day. The garlicky potato soup was okay, but just didn't have all the flavor I was looking for in a soup.

I would love to come back and try their dinner items or even some of the sweet brunch items (since we only ordered off the savory category). It seems like a busy place especially during prime brunch/lunch time so expect a wait, but it's worth a try!

• 

  Garlicky potato soup, Croque Madame, and breakfast sandwich with bacon

  Garlicky potato soup, Croque Madame, and breakfast sandwich with bacon

8/9/2015

The ricotta pancakes are beyond amazing. Fluffy and not too sweet, nor to heavy. The breakfast sandwich was on the heavier side, but so delicious.  The prices were fair.

8/4/2015

This cute restaurant was so well done.  The menu was well done and it had very clean,  healthy options.  My husband got the scramble and he absolutely loved it.  It was fresh,  and just the right amount of food.  I got the waffle and sausage paddy.  It was the best waffle I have ever had.  It seemed as though they got the waffle mix from a mill of some sort.  It didn't have the thick dough like taste it had more of a grain taste which was very unique and delicious. I would definitely recommend trying this spot.

7/17/2015

I feel like Birchwood Kitchen brunch was a little overhyped, to be honest. The atmosphere is a small, quaint, cute shop, and reminiscent of brunch places in LA. The Croque Madame is what I wanted when I ordered it, but nothing that blew my mind out of the water. The options were solid, but I felt that an oomph was missing to give it 4 or 5 stars.

7/18/2015

Great place for brunch and dinner. Anything with gravlax there is legit. Awesome pastries. Their soups are always on point. Whoever creates their menus knows how to balance out flavors and textures really well. Never overly salty. Their dishes let the ingredients speak for themselves. Would not recommend taking large groups here though.

7/26/2015

This restaurant is an absolute gem. I just crossed it out off my bucket list and didn't even know it was there!
We had truffle polenta and ricotta pancakes both of which were made to perfection.

5/12/2015

Yum. Seriously. This is a great little gem in the city of Chicago. I definitely enjoyed my breakfast at this hip gastro pub style resturant. In addition to great food and drinks they have a very friendly staff.  A worth while visit.... and yes order a cookie at the end of your meal.

• 

  Cool signage.... a view from the window seat

  Cool signage.... a view from the window seat
• 

  Kitchen

  Kitchen

8/8/2015

Visiting from NYC, I looked up best places to eat near Wicker Park and this place showed up first. We were greeted with a friendly girl outside and was offered water and coffee while we waited for our name to be called. We waited about 25-30 minutes outside before going in. I liked the simple/modern decor and the good service. My friend had the Croquet Madame and I had the Basque Stew or something like that... it was really good and worth the wait. I don't live in Chicago so I won't be able to come any time soon... probably not until next year! :(

11/19/2014

This is one of the hippest sandwich shops I've ever been to. Well done, Birchwood *fist bump*

I stopped in for lunch with a co-worker and had such a hard time deciding what to order! Everything sounded so awesome (and it probably is, which is why I'll be back). Their sandwiches are super creative and take the concept to a whole new level. These are basically fancy sandwiches.

The sandwich I ordered isn't on their online menu (but it was on the menu in the restaurant). It entailed ham, brie, pears, and a cranberry jam on whole grain bread if I remember correctly. The combo was intriguing, and I'm glad I got it because the combo of flavors were on point. A fresh side salad accompanied this delectable meal on bread.

Pro tip: They do not have any sort of fountain drinks. Everything is bottled. I highly suggest their natural cola though!

• 

  The cola is awesome!

  The cola is awesome!
• 

1/27/2015

It takes a lot for a sandwich place to earn a fourth star from me, but Birchwood had it from the first bite. On my first visit, I did the soup and half-sandwich. The soup - black bean - was some of the best black bean soup I'd ever had. Then the Spanish tuna sandwich (which is made mayo-less) was full of flavor and different textures. Great tuna, great toppings, great bread. And the generous portion of side salad was appreciated too!

I returned a few weeks later and got the broccoli sandwich. Who are you trying to fool here? This was a grilled cheese with broccoli, and it was awesome. Yum yum yum. It's too bad I don't live in the neighborhood anymore, because I'd be there all the time.

• 

  Spanish tuna sandwich

  Spanish tuna sandwich

12/16/2014

Ordered a quick coffee and brioche to stay on a Tuesday morning. Coffee was excellent but seemed a bit pricey for a drip coffee. Although I was able to take a cup to go so that was nice. Brioche was superb but I needed more bread to eat with the cheese so I used my spoon to eat the rest. It was creamy and balanced well with the sweet jam.

The place was cute and quiet. The service was excellent. I'd love to stop by again for brunch!

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  Quiche and fruit

  Quiche and fruit
• 

  Brioche and coffee

  Brioche and coffee

11/6/2014

Charming!
Delightful eats!
Delightful atmosphere!

My lamb and carrot caponata sandwich was fantastic, and dear god, what are you dressing those greens with, Birchwood? It's intoxicating, that vinaigrette.

Bonus points for salting and peppering those same beautifully-dressed greens, too... it's the little things.

8/7/2015

An overlooked gem. Extremely casual yet super-nice place with superb simple, fresh, ingredient-centered food. BYOB.

Their back patio is enchanting. It's just a normal back yard, but they have just perfectly outfitted it as a discreet and comfortable dining space. Service is friendly and they actually know their customers.

The food is, simply, perfectly executed. A kind of combination between comfort food (and Southern-oriented regional American cuisine) with farm-to-table, ingredient-centric cooking, with vegetables taking the center stage as often as meat.

Lightly grilled peaches with corn, green beans, mozzarella and bacon was the perfect back yard summer dish. Crab cakes, sumptuously creamy and mild and lying atop spicy jicama salad, were excellent. A chicken dinner was if anything oversized, two expertly cut portions of chicken with a deliciously tender blackened skin. Served with fantastic roasted carrots, chard, and inventive potato dumplings. Everything else on the menu looked amazing. No dishes exceeded $12.

They're known for their brunch/lunch, but they should be more popular for dinner!

6/29/2015

Went here for lunch on Friday and didn't have to wait for a table. I got the breakfast sandwich with bacon and it was fabulous. The spread on it (I think pimento cheese) really made it stand out. My friend had the vegetarian sandwich and thought it was mediocre. The atmosphere is really nice. The outside seating looks great! Wish we would've sat out there!

4/14/2015

Was here for brunch on a Saturday and the place was packed. I had a party of 3 and luckily we only had to wait 20 minutes. Birchwood Kitchen is BYOB, so we headed down to a local store to grab some drinks for brunch. When we got seated, I quickly glanced over the menu and decided to get the croque madame. This was one of the better croque madames I've had - the eggs were cooked perfectly, the bread was still crunchy, and the cheese was perfectly gooey (pro tip from my friend: if you're going to use your hands to eat it, take the egg off the top and put it inside the sandwich). This may be the fat kid in me speaking, but I just wish that there was more ham! We also had the pickled plate, which was a variety of pickled veggies (see pics). All in all, a pretty solid place for brunch

• 

  Croque madame

  Croque madame
• 

  Pickled plate

  Pickled plate

10/20/2014

I met up with some friends for a late lunch at Birchwood and was definitely impressed with the food and service.  I don't believe the wait was too long but I arrived later than my other friends so I'm not sure how long they had to wait for a table (suckers! just kidding).

I ordered the croque vert which basically is a grilled cheese sandwich with gruyere cheese and veggies topped with over easy eggs and a side of tossed greens.  If you love cheese like I do, you'll definitely be a fan of this dish.  The runniness of the eggs added a nice texture to the crunchy, grilled sandwich and the slight tang of the greens complimented the sandwich well.  I am a huge carnivore and it is so rare for me to order a meatless dish.  Let me tell you, this croque vert was so yummy I didn't even mind that it was a vegetarian dish!  I also had a soy latte and it was pretty good.  I believe they use Metropolis beans and they also offer free coffee outside for those waiting for a table.  Pretty neat if I say so myself!

Our server was funny, helpful, and incredibly sweet.  We have one friend who is a picky eater and he was being a bit of a diva that day.  He didn't like any of the choices and asked if he could make up his own dish since he only liked bits and pieces of each option.  Thank goodness our server and Birchwood were so accommodating and they brought him what he wanted...which happened to be toast, their in-house smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, and a side of fruit.  Of all things, this is what you order?!  If you're going to be difficult, at least be a little more creative than that, right?? haha

Anywho, I thought our server was going to kill us when we asked for separate checks at the end of our meal.  Yikes!  Next time we'll make sure to leave him behind so he doesn't cramp our style!  All in all, I had a great time.  Birchwood has great food, service, and a nice laid back atmosphere.

• 

  Croque vert

  Croque vert
• 

  Soy latte

  Soy latte

5/31/2015

Damn. Just one of the best brunch places I've been to, like, ever! Sweet location, hip space inside, great service, with great tasting perfect portioned food at a usual, and very fair price. I was extremely satisfied with the two plates I tried... The breakfast sandwich and the croque vert. Both AMAZING. Everything that could have gone right at Birchwood did. Can't wait to go back and explore more of the menu (and the desserts).

• 

  Breakfast sandwich!!! VERY GOOD. Add bacon and avocado to it to make it one of the best breakfasts you've had in a while.

  Breakfast sandwich!!! VERY GOOD. Add bacon and avocado to it to make it one of the best breakfasts you've had in a while.

8/4/2015

Had brie sandwich (drizzeled with honey!) that comes with salad on the side. Super friendly atmosphere with great food. Definitely would come back for this.

6/6/2015

We sat, we waited for an hour and our food never showed up, so we left. It was a bummer because everything looked delicious.

Our server was really apologetic, but it was frustrating that she kept insisting the delay was because the kitchen was slammed, when people around us who were seated after us got their meals right away.

10/1/2014

This place was buzzing on yelp with 4.5 stars and 700+ reviews so we designated our last day in Chicago to have brunch here. Luckily, they just finished renovating and reopened. Everything was just so perfectly planned out!

I already knew what I wanted after seeing the pictures and reading the reviews. The shrimp and grits looked amazing. However, their menu changed! The shrimp and grits was no longer offered! :(. Such sadness. None of their specials that day seemed appealing to me either. So I went with the croque madame. My friend ordered the croque vert (veggies with corn and brussel sprouts). We wanted to get the sourdough waffles with fresh fruit, but they ran out. It looked amazing when we saw them bringing it out. We were just one order too late!

Both the croque madame and vert were pretty good. Both were very cheesy, a bit more to my liking. But the sunny side eggs were cooked perfectly and the bread was toasted just right! The only thing they could have improved on was maybe add a bit more ham in the croque madame to go with all that cheese.

We ordered a side of hashbrowns. Don't get it. It was way too greasy with no flavor and the portion was quite small for $2.50.

But their lemonade was delicious! It was infused with basil and lavender yummm! The lavender was just enough to give it a bit of a light floral taste.

Prices were very reasonable. Just a little under $10 for each dish.

We were seated out in their patio. We were very fortunate with ideal weather (sunny but not too hot and no wind)! But they have a good amount of seating indoors and out.

Service was great. Our server and host were very friendly.

I do recommend coming a bit earlier, which means the wait might be a bit longer. But since we came near the end of the morning rush (1 pm), foods run out such as their banana bread and their sourdough waffles. Poo.

Overall, decent brunch. A-OK = 3 stars. I wouldn't mind coming back if I can try those waffles or grits!

5/2/2015

Just got into Chicago last night, woke up, and this was the first place I saw. I was NOT disappointed!

While you wait to be called, they offer you brownies and coffee!

Except maybe she just forgot... But the hostess did not offer me brownies, although there was a bowl full of them in between us (on the podium) when I gave her my name. She did offer brownies to the party right before me, and the party right after me.

I grabbed one when she went inside to check for available tables! Mainly because I didn't want to ask if I could have one because she offered everyone else one. Anyway, I thought it was weird. I'm pretty sure it wasn't discrimination, but other people might take it that way.

On to the food... DELICIOUS!

We got the avocado toast and he sourdough waffle. Tip: Avocado toast is not enough for a meal. We had to order some sides.

It was all very good, and I recommend it! I finished every last bite!

• 

  Sourdough Waffles

  Sourdough Waffles
• 

  Avocado Toast

  Avocado Toast

3/8/2015

Very friendly cashiers and service! The croque madame is consistently good with perfectly cooked eggs on top of crunchy sourdough, but I wish there was more of the thinly sliced ham. I tried a piece of the croque vert once, and think it's just as good as the classic croque madame - roasted veggies and Gruyere is a great combination.

Tried two remedies for the relative lack of ham in the sandwich: pork sausage which was juicy and delicious, and bacon, which was limp and covered in grease. In the end, their portions are generous enough that I wouldn't bother with the sides again. Overall, Birchwood is A-OK brunch for sure.

5/19/2015

The french toast here was fairly decent.

The bacon was some of the best I've had at any restaurant.

The service was pretty awful unfortunately.

The waitress forgot 2 of the items I ordered and when I asked about them, she apologized profusely and said she'll get my toast and soup right away. 20 minutes later, after everyone had finished eating, she brings my toast and soup as we were asking for the check. The toast was cold, the soup was dripping all over the table and spilled onto the lap of the person next to me.

Bottom line - for the leisurely diner who appreciates good bacon and doesn't mind their pants smelling like baked potatoes all day, I would recommend this place.

8/4/2015

Delicious food, especially brunch. No alcohol, but you can BYOB. Favorite things I've had there: avocado toast and strawberry rhubarb scones. The wait can be a bit long on the weekends, so get there early. Our waiter was really fun and quirky and was the one to practically insist on the avo toast, and he was my hero once I took a bite.

7/28/2015

Nice little place. My wife and I went here on a weekday 10am. Nice atmosphere, they had available outside seating we opted for indoor. Food was good, loved the greens, I do wish they had more options for coffee i.e local coffee or organic, the waitress mentioned regular and decaf. The food was not salty, made fresh. I had the Croque vert, portion size was perfect. My wife ordered the Gravlax BLT with a latte which was nice and foamy, she liked it. We were able to get street parking during this time without any hassles. Will go there again to try the lunch options which serves from 11am.

6/28/2015

This place is off the chain. Everyone is beyond nice. From the free coffee while waiting to the endearingly kooky servers, I'm into it. I had the avocado toast and a side of fruit and it was unique - almost Thai flavors. My mom had the quiche and it was great. Prices are on point. Can't wait to go back with a bottle in tow (BYOB!!!)

• 

  Avocado toast and a side of fruit

  Avocado toast and a side of fruit

8/2/2015

Great food and reasonably priced! Avocado toast was amazing. My husband had the breakfast sandwich and he loved it too. I would definitely come back.

5/20/2015

I was pretty excited to eat breakfast here. The pictures of food looked awesome, the restaurant looked really nice and it was a short walk from where I was staying.    Upon arrival the hostess, who was very friendly, just seemed flustered and overwhelmed.  You could see they had everything outside to self serve coffee to people waiting for tables, everything but the coffee?  They'd been open for 30 minutes already.   We waited about 10 minutes and got a table in the back yard.  It was nice, I really enjoyed being outside on a nice day.  Our table was very wobbly, not a big deal, I put my folded up napkin under it.   About this time when the inconsistent service began. First, we got served out coffee, finally.  It was brought over and  we were told milk, sugar etc was on its way.  After waiting 5 minutes I had to ask for it, twice.  When the sugar/milk came we noticed no stirrers or spoons.   So, I stirred with my knife.  A few minutes later stirrers showed up, literally minutes.  My wife said someone probably heard me say "c'mon, where are the stirrers?".  We ordered, I got the breakfast sandwich with a side of potatoes.   We had a shared table appetizer of the avocado and toast.  It was good.  There were three of us, two of the plates came out.  Trying to be polite we waited for the third.  Again, about five minutes.  Once it arrived we began eating. I noticed my potatoes were a little under seasoned.  Eventually our waiter (who also was very nice) asked if we wanted salt, pepper, hot sauce.  I said yes, it all came out pretty quickly.  My breakfast sandwich , with bacon, was tasty.   I didn't let the hair on the bacon ruin my meal.  It happens, it's not the end of the world.    Everyone else enjoyed their meals very much.  Maybe it was an off day.  The hostess said they were on a re run of "Check Please" the night before and the morning was very  busy.   Would I eat there again?  Maybe, but there are a lot more really good places to try first before going back.  With great service this was 4 stars all day, but with mediocre service (with a smile), it's three.

• 

  breakfast sandwich with bacon

  breakfast sandwich with bacon

2/2/2015 Updated review

Birchwood switched to table service a few months back and in turn, overhauled their menu a bit. While I can't complain about any restaurant's desire to serve only items that are homemade, I'd be remiss to point out that they no longer have potato chips, their delicious brownies or bottled cola. I'm hoping these are only temporary issues as the pot roast sandwich remains the bubonic chronic*.

*Dr. Dre reference

1/11/2015 Updated review

I am disappointed with all the changes.  The charm of this place before with order at the counter service then sit down was so much better.  They probably switched from that to the new full service model to get the ignoramuses who previously camped out with their large parties out of here- in that regard there was a problem, but I'm not a fan of the menu changes.  The food tastes different and the same quality and attention to detail that was there seems to be missing.  

My winter vegetable scramble w/goat cheese today was so generic, with sparse vegetables and a minuscule amount of goat cheese- just very boring.  The hash browns aren't really hash browns, more home fries- thinly sliced potatoes slightly sautéed with copious amounts of oil.  Needed to douse them in hot sauce for some flavor and at $2.50 for the serving it's ridiculous.  
 
They have put themselves in line with all of the other brunch places in Chicago now and really lost that uniqueness that I loved.  My husband and I have visited countless times in the 5 years we've lived in Chicago and I just wish it would go back to the way it was.

6/7/2015

If you come during a rush hour (11 am on a Sunday) be prepared to WAIT. My husband, daughter and I waited over an hour to be seated. I was annoyed they sat larger parties who arrived after us, before us. Maybe they called in, who knows? I will say though, they were very nice to us about the long wait. We got complimentary coffee, hot chocolate, and banana bread for the wait. Thankfully, my daughter is used to going to hipster places, so she was well behaved with the help of technology ;-) It was slightly cold for May, so the outdoor seating was closed, which could explain the EXTREMLY LONG wait time.
Customer beware, they have seasonal menus. So while looking at Yelp photos is nice, almost none of what was pictured was on the current menu. The hubby and I both settled on the breakfast sandwich, and ordered a waffle for my daughter. Too big for her, but there weren't any pancakes on the kids meal, and the kids menu was very limited. Our breakfast sandwiches were great! Soft bread that crumbled, I had bacon too, and it was toasty but not like break my teeth hard.

• 

  Waffle for the toddler! (Fruit on the side because she doesn't like soggy waffles!)

  Waffle for the toddler! (Fruit on the side because she doesn't like soggy waffles!)
• 

  Breakfast sandwich. Highly recommended if still on menu!

  Breakfast sandwich. Highly recommended if still on menu!

1/22/2015

Yum!  Came here for a chef's tasting menu night.  The space is small but very warm and cozy.  Service was friendly and attentive, a very enjoyable experience!

Being a chef's tasting, selections were made for us and served family style.  This is hearty comfort food, if you're looking for tiny portions plated in innovative ways, go elsewhere.  If you're looking for unpretentious, great flavors, dig in!  Here's what we had in order of yumminess:

Hors: (hehe)
-deviled egg with smoked salmon - so smokey, I thought there was bacon on it!  Delicious!
-homemade pickles - these have a kick to them, I think there is a little curry in the pickle juice.  Yum!
-root vegetable pancakes - tiny little latkes with ginge and yogurt on top, it was a nice bite

Mains:
-roasted mushrooms - I know, it's weird to put a side above the main, but these were so damn tasty (must be the sherry butter)
-sherry (more!) marinated chicken thighs - normally I dislike thighs, you have to see/touch the bone and that just grosses me out.  These had great flavor and melted off the bone, so I thoroughly enjoyed them.  The spaetzle was a fun addition, too
-swiss chard gratin - cheesy goodness

Dessert:
-salted butter cookie - the surprising favorite of the table!  I mean, who likes cookies over chocolate and pastries??  But no, it was THAT good!
-brownie - moist and walnuty, very tasty
-lemon bar - I didn't try this, but my friends enjoyed..though not as much as the above two

Nice work, Birchwood!

7/1/2014

Unlike almost every other highly rated brunch spot, this one had no wait! That is virtually unheard of so I was pleasantly surprised, especially since we were, as my sister would put it, "HON-gray!!"

There is indoor seating and outdoor seating at a patio out back. The diner has a very Bucktown feel.

No table service aside from them bringing your order to your table. You order at the register and grab your own drinks.

I ordered the croque Madame. It was tasty and the bread was done so that it was just the perfect amount of chewy.

The quiche is a bit on the small side, like a small slice of pie. It was delicious though.

I'll be back without a doubt to try some of the other items.

• 

  Croque Madame

  Croque Madame

5/6/2015

Its a good sandwich place.  Its very bucktown.... Which I knew coming in so can't take a star off.  Crazy local coffee and pop and very fancy sandwiches.  Expensive for what you get (again no taking stars off for what I already knew) but overall 4 stars but not my type of sandwich places

7/10/2015

Do you like arugula and goat cheese? Because if you do, just about everything they serve has arugula and goat cheese on it. In fact they should change the name to arugula and goat cheese. If you don't like arugula and goat cheese then you might not like this place.

12/7/2014

It's really 3.5 stars.  We have been in a few times for brunch.  It was good but I wasn't blown away.   They don't take reservations and there can be quite a wait. Their seating system is a little bit odd.  Even though I could see empty tables inside, there was still a wait (even though we said we would be okay with inside).  The hostess also looks overwhelmed  at peak times. However, coffee while you wait is nice.

The food was somewhat mixed for brunch. The Croque Madame was very tasty and one of my favorites.  I didn't order it but tried a bite the first time and wished I had it. I thought the baked french toast was just okay.  I kept eyeing the sandwiches most of the time.

They have a nice patio and byob. I will have to come back for lunch over brunch.

7/13/2014

Walked in during high brunch hours and was only told a 20mn wait. They had coffee outside for those waiting. Never had such great hospitality for brunch. The servers were super friendly and attentive.

Love love their warm earthy decor. The backyard is very open and green. When you finally walk in, you have to order before seating down. I guess it keeps the place in order.

I ordered the croque vert  croque Madame with ham substituted for greens (asparagus was in season). Solid dish with fresh ingredients. I wouldn't have had it smothered with dijon mustard though. My husband loved his grilled cheddar sandwich which came oozing with cheese.

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  Croque vert

  Croque vert

6/1/2015

My friend's birthday was coming up, so I googled "sandwich BYOB" (she's a sandwich fan and and a boozer).  I found this place and trusted the reviews, so we tried it!

The staff was super friendly and accommodating. I shot them an e-mail saying we had a birthday group, and they got back.  Even let me bring in a birthday cake, although I regretted it since their deserts looked delicious (banana bread, large chocolate chip cookies, carrot cake).

It had a tapas feel, so go in an order a couple different sides of their different salads and pastas.

We enjoyed a few beers we brought out on the back patio. They even brought a bucket to keep them chilled.

7/10/2015

Birchwood Kitchen keeps me coming back every summer visit to Chicago. Definitely a must try for brunch. Be prepared to wait though. The food here is fresh and always subtly complex with flavorful ingredients. Best way to describe it is gourmet comfort food.  This week we went for lunch. The brie prosciutto was satisfying and the pork loin was incredible. Try sitting in their fairy like garden if weather permits.

3/13/2014

Searching for a restaurant for brunch this past weekend, I stumbled upon Birchwood Kitchen during my yelp search and found that a familiar name had written a review - Kelly S. Now who is Kelly S. you ask? My first, quirky, awesome Yelp CM ever. I instantly knew I had to try this place.

Birchwood Kitchen is everything that I want in a brunch place - exposed brick, free and unlimited coffee, a wonderful and friendly waitstaff, an even nicer owner (if that's possible), and delicious, scrumptious food. My friend and I ventured out to this cute establishment for Sunday brunch and loved every minute of it. Sure, you might have to wait a bit for a table on the weekends, but the wait system is super convenient/efficient. Their system takes your phone number, and texts you to let you know when you're in 'line' and when your table is ready, so you're not just hanging out watching everyone eat (what a tease).

We perused over the menu and sipped our warm coffee, and then the debates began. Croque vert or the breakfast sandwich? Tuna melt maybe? OMG steak and eggs!! We decided to do a halfzies and share the steak and eggs and the Croque Vert sandwich. The food was delicious! The steak and eggs came with a side of roasted potatoes and a chipotle cream that paired perfectly, and the Croque Vert came with a side salad. I would definitely recommend both. I think what made the experience so great was the service. Judd, the owner, came over numerous times to make sure everything was to our satisfaction. The service was out of this world amazing and I would literally go back just to be friends with these nice people.

Tip: the brunch wait on a Sunday is approximately 40 minutes, so be prepared to wait a bit!

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  Inside seating area. The exposed brick is beautiful

  Inside seating area. The exposed brick is beautiful
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  Steak and eggs! Delicious!!

  Steak and eggs! Delicious!!

11/27/2014

The food here is pretty good, and they have BYOB which always makes for a fabulous brunch. Plus, this place is always so crowded giving the feeling that it's a hot spot. However, they definitely do not a have  a very good seating system. The handful of times I've gone there always are empty tables and a line if people waiting to be seated. They definitely would benefit from a better operational system and probably make more money too!

Overall though, great food, and I think the vegetarian dishes actually taste better if you're ok going meatless. Enjoy!

5/17/2014

I love brunch, and Birchwood Kitchen has now made it to the top of my favorites list. We came around 3pm on a Saturday, and were greeted as soon as we walked in by the very cheery staff. They assigned us a number and a table, and then we ordered at the counter (they bring the food out to you). We decided to go with their weekend specials- the shrimp and grits (10) and the baked french toast (8). I also ordered a mocha (4). They don't charge extra for soy, which is great for the lactose intolerant! You pick up your coffee at the end of the counter, where you can also pour your own water and get coffee and tea. The mocha came in a very large mug, and was probably the best mocha I have had, no exaggeration. It wasn't overly sweet, and was the perfect temperature.

The baked french toast with blueberries came out first and it was like eating bread pudding or a really moist cake. Yum! We got three large pieces with lots of fresh blueberries. The shrimp and grits was amazing and we got 6 marinated shrimp, grilled asparagus, grits with pesto and a poached egg. That dish did not last long at all since we scarfed it down so fast.

Overall, this is definitely a 5 star establishment for the atmosphere, food, prices, and service. Also, free street parking!

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  Biscuit and gravy with pork sausage (11)

  Biscuit and gravy with pork sausage (11)
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  Croque madame (9.5)

  Croque madame (9.5)
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  Chilaquiles with turkey chorizo (11)

  Chilaquiles with turkey chorizo (11)
• See all photos from Jenny H. for Birchwood Kitchen

6/25/2015

Came all the way from south loop to get to this spot because of the reviews and the pictures of the delicious  food. The expectations were met! My family and I enjoyed breakfast. The service was great, yeah it was a bit slow but we're human. We can only do so much at a certain pace.....Unless I'm the only one in the place who is eating, there shouldn't be a wait, but there is other people that need to be attended just as much as I do. Just gotta be understanding. I'll def come back for the avocado toast if I'm ever in Chicago.

3/24/2014

What a quaint and lovely establishment! I'll definitely have to come back when the weather is warmer, to enjoy seating outside in the back patio (AND the fresh, yummy food).

Came here for brunch with coworkers on a gloomy Saturday. Put my name down for 3 people and waited only about 15 minutes before we got to order. It's super casual, you just order at the cashier and they bring the food out to your table. Of course I had to try the Croque Madame based on a bunch of awesome reviews. I'm glad I tried it, because it was magnificent! The bread was perfectly crunchy, crispy toasted...the Gruyere cheese was so ooey gooey melty...and I actually love that the ham was thinly sliced. I don't particularly care for thick sliced ham, I prefer it thinly sliced. Two thumbs up for my meal! Took home two of the quiche specials that day. It was good even the next day.

The service is great, and the staff members are all very friendly and kind. Can't wait to come back here to try something else! Hooray for brunch and hooray for Brichwood!

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  Croque Madame

  Croque Madame

9/3/2014

I am PUMPED about this place. From the minute our feet hit the curb outside the storefront, we were greeted warmly and affectionately by two quirky women. One went inside to locate a table for us, the other began walking us through the menu (a courageous and selfless act as she could have drowned in our drool).

(We arrived around 11am on a Sunday and had no wait time - there were even a couple empty tables inside.)

As soon as I looked at the menu I started salivating like a pavlov's dog in the middle of a christmas handbell choir. The three of us had to get four dishes to split amongst ourselves, and even that was restraining our desired gluttony. I won't go through all the dishes but rest assured, the meat and the vegetarian dishes were all damn good. So was the lemon bar which I took home with me for desert because I couldn't bear the thought of our love being unrequited.

I had lots of friendly playful banter with the guy at the counter. Love funny people with some snark to 'em. I didn't love the patronage as much (there was literally a parade of strollers leaving out the door with a very 'Gap vibe'). But no worries. The food and the service and the atmosphere all made me blind to my prejudices. And they were playing Little Dragon on the house speakers so that also calmed my ruffling feathers.

Beautiful. Tasty. Fresh. Gluttonous healthful food. Honestly there wasn't a single thing here I wouldn't want to eat.

6/28/2015 Updated review

Had another amazing breakfast at Birchwood today. They always keep us guessing with the different options on their menu. I had the ham croque today which was amazing and my fiancé had the market scramble. We eat here every Sunday and the scramble is different every week with different fresh veggies. Thanks for being awesome!!

6/20/2015

Super friendly service. We loved Kelly! So attentive and nice. Market scramble was delicious and so fresh. Also get the oatmeal cookie and the chocolate banana bread.

3/3/2014

I met my friend here for brunch on Saturday and we arrived around 10:30am, right before a line formed.  The staff is extremely bubbly and friendly.  I ordered an orange juice and the breakfast sandwich.  The sandwich was loaded with pesto, arugula, cheese and eggs.  I looved the bread too, extremely fresh.  The salad had a light dressing, but the potatoes were a little under- salted.  The orange juice was fresh, with just the right amount of pulp. The sandwich was huge and I could only eat half of it.  The other half was perfect for breakfast the next day.

I couldn't leave without grabbing a butterscotch oatmeal cookie.  I usually prefer a chocolate chip cookie, but this was perfect.  Chewy, but not hard.  And the oatmeal and butterscotch were the perfect pairing.

I'd love to come back and check out the rest of the menu.

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  Breakfast Sandwich

  Breakfast Sandwich

2/6/2015

I'm so glad I finally made it in here!  What a treat!
I was here for a chef's tasting menu w/ The Local Tourist.  They're usually closed on Mondays which is good b/c its small and cozy inside.  Since they were just on Check Please! you may have to wait until outside seating opens up.
The people who work/own this place are superb.  Super nice and really into making good food with fresh ingredients.  They are talented.
We had deviled eggs with smoked salmon.  Wow!  If that's all they served I would be excited.  I think I could have had 16 of them.  Also their pickles were fantastic.
The mains were roasted mushrooms.  So simple and so satisfying.  Then chicken thighs with spaetzle.  Normally I don't like the thigh but these were good and boneless.  
The desserts were simple but oh so delicious!!  Our favorite was the salted butter cookie.  For a chocoholic to say that is very high praise.  But let's not sell the lemon bars and brownies short.  I had a healthy helping of those too.
I'd come back for it all!!  And I'm dying to try their brunch.  I'm sure its wonderful.

6/22/2015

Came here for lunch. Had some sort of pot roast sandwich. It sounded delicious on the menu and looked great in front of me but every bite was super salty. It might be just me because I always make low sodium pot roasts at home. My wife had their ham and Gruyere cheese sandwich. She thought hers was too salty as well. I can confirm this because I intended on stealing her food. I snatched her sandwich when she went to the bathroom.  The first bite reminded me of my first time in the ocean. I might just have a very low tolerance to salt. Other people would probably enjoy it. I don't know.

7/11/2014

Update: they added a host counter and changed the brunch menu...removing a lot of yummy food items like the pork roast stew! Everything is now pretty much a sandwich or with-toast affair which my carb-phobic friend wasn't too happy about. Alas they are saved by the BYOB +orange juice mix option.

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This is perhaps the brunch place I've been to the most yet in Chicago, partly because I live in the Wicker park area, service is fast, food is fresh and it's not as bloody expensive as Lula's. The owner is really attentive. I'm a vegetarian and one time they gave me meat by accident and gave me a free croque vert sandwich. Another time I brought my friends who were visiting from Toronto and they gave us cake. My longest brunch wait here was 10 minutes.

Sandwiches are always savoury and perfectly toasted, buttery and crunchy. The salad was done with a lovely vinagrette dressing. It goes up to $9 a sandwich-meal, but it's immaculately made and fills you up.

Recommended: breakfast sandwich, smoked pork sandwich, croque vert

They usually have a daily quiche, several salads and daily soup as well.

1/19/2014

I used Yelp to find a good recommendation for brunch/lunch and I have to say a big THANK YOU! You led me to an awesome discovery.

Turns out the friend I was meeting comes here all the time, and I just didn't know that. He LOVES the place and says he's never gotten anything bad there. When we went, he ordered the chilaquiles - I was basically drooling over them, they looked so good but unfortunately I don't eat anything with pork.

I ordered the Croque Verde - basically a Croque Monsieur with vegetables instead of ham - second translation - an amazing French style grilled cheese with lots of seasonal veggies. It was delish and came with a side salad.

My friend insisted we split one of their bagels as well. I couldn't be happier that we did. I was expecting the bagel quality to be superbly outrageous, which it was, but the real point of trying this is the spread. They mix cream cheese with goat cheese and honey and a touch of awesomeness, and then make it warm I think. It's like bagel crack, I couldn't get enough.

I would definitely go back to this place - friendly staff, awesome décor and delicious food. What more do you need?

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  Chilaquiles

  Chilaquiles

9/2/2014

Very, very good. The ratings here do not lie. I love the order at the counter first, get food second concept because you are in and out and it is a casual brunch and lunch experience. For me, that's all I ask.

The belgian waffle with the fresh fruit was simple and not overbearing. The coffee, I think, is Metropolis and they let you drink coffee as you wait for your table.

Really unpretentious, good food available here. Expect to pay around $20 a head which is definitely worth it.

5/31/2015

Check this place out! The service started out great with a warm hostess, genuine but not bubbly. The server was great too. She was attentive and pleasant. The menu was exciting and changes weekly. The food was amazing. I got the vegetable scrambler. I don't eat cheese so I swapped it out for avocado. Everyone at our table loved our food and everything was made perfectly. It's hard to describe but there was just good energy here. I hope to be back soon!

3/7/2015

The food: 4.5/5. I went here for the first time about a year and a half ago, when I tried some greasy chorizo eggs benedict and thought I'd never come back. Randomly, I stopped by again and got Croque Madame per my friends recommendation. I'm glad I gave Birchwood Kitchen another try, because now I'm hooked. Their Croque Madame is probably one of the best in the city, and BYOB makes it even better. I only wish they had a greater selection of traditional brunch food such as eggs benedicts and omelets.

The service: 5/5. The last time we went, the wait was about 45 minutes, but they had heat lamps on their patio, so we didn't have to be all cramped inside. Our waitress was very friendly and accommodated my request in regard to food.

Overall: I'll definitely recommend.

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  croque madame

  croque madame

8/24/2014

Slow service on a Saturday afternoon at lunch!  Watching the staff work is disconcerting.  It seemed like the gal taking orders was SLOW. As in taking forever. Maybe it was the customers, or maybe it was her.  However, then the food was also over 15 minutes from the time ordered to arrival.  And this is an order-at-the-counter sandwich shop.

Watching the food prep person shovel coleslaw into a shallow bowl using her her finger tips  to make sure it was all in the bowl, and then shortly after that replacing the kitchen garbage bag was not a comforting site.

It was a hot and humid day outside, so it was a hot and humid day inside the restaurant. Sitting around waiting for the meal to arrive in the heat left me a little on edge.  At Birchwood, you serve your own water, but there were no glasses.  I asked the guy behind the counter, and he said I would find glasses outside on the patio.  Nope, none there either.  So the guy then offered me a plastic cup, which I filled with their luke warm tap water - no ice until I had the chance to ask the server for some 15 minutes later when the food came.

The food was great, not sure all the aggravation was worth it though.

7/6/2014

Very cute brunch spot with fresh flowers on each table.

Came here for brunch with my girlfriends on a Sunday around 1 PM. The wait was only about 15 minutes, but the downfall was they were out of the French toast that we were all looking forward to. Sad face.

So instead we opted for the waffles (bit disappointing-- my gfs referred to it as the Eggo waffle looking dish covered with chocolate sauce and bananas) but I guess it was alright, very soft and fluffy.

Also ordered the breakfast sandwich with goat cheese, bacon and eggs, with a side of red potatoes and petit salad. The sandwich was pretty good, but then again I love anything with goat cheese and eggs.

The biscuits and gravy prob was my favorite of the dishes we ordered--- opted for the pork sausage too, which complemented the rest of the dish. We got the oatmeal butterscotch cookie too (which really was a meh, nothing outstanding) and the berry cobbler--- probably the best of everything we ordered.

Water is self-serve in the back, and you order and pay for food at the register. Crap, now that I think about it, I think we forgot to tip because they didn't have a line on the receipt to add gratuity. Oh shoot now I feel like an ass because the girl serving us was really nice! So ummm bring cash to tip!

8/21/2014

Really appreciated this place. Having just returned from a trip to Paris and Rome, the freshness and flavor of this food really reminded me of what I'd had in Europe.

At the recommendation of the employee, I tried the Brie and Jam sandwich with the chickpea salad as my "upgraded" side. The sandwich's whipped brie and apricot-lavender jam were out of this world. Flavorful without feeling like I was gorging myself on butter and sugar. The arugula really set off the sweetness with a peppery flavor. The chickpea salad was pretty spicy but had a good kick to it. I had read that others really like this side, which was my motivation for choosing it, and I'm glad I did. Very filling but not leaving me feeling sick.

Tried their special blueberry basil lemonade and was surprised it came out pink. Blueberry? Pink? Not sure what concoction that was but it tasted like pink lemonade, I would suggest you pass on the upgraded drinks.

A pretty small space but super cute décor, I could see it getting busy for brunch or lunch. Wouldn't mind trying this place again if I were to be in the area.

8/19/2014

It's great for breakfast and brunch, where you should get the croque madame sandwich. The Slagel Farms sausage is a welcome side.

I'll eat here anytime I'm in Wicker Park.